Police have 'run out of investigative leads' in Drake University racist note cases

Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. (Photo11: Kelsey Kremer/The Register)Buy Photo

Des Moines police and Drake University public safety officials continue to investigate who sent racist notes to four students during the first part of November, officials said Wednesday.

No arrests have been made, officials said.

Earlier this week, the person who received the first note — Keith Walker — wrote about his experience in a social media post. Walker, who did not respond to several interview requests, wrote that he left Drake on Nov. 9 for “mental health reasons” but was returning.

In the post, which has since been removed from Facebook, Walker wrote that if he was a white student who'd received a threatening note, “I’d probably be moved into the Holiday Inn” that is located near Drake.

Drake, in a statement released Wednesday, wrote that after Walker received the note, he was offered alternative living arrangements, counseling, academic support and supplemental security.

Jarad Bernstein, a spokesman for Drake, could not confirm whether Walker accepted any of the university’s officers.

Sgt. Paul Parizek, a Des Moines police spokesman, said Walker did not report receiving the note to police nor has he cooperated with the investigation.

Parizek said police have “run out of investigative leads” in relationship to the other notes but are still talking with people.

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Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Drake University students and faculty gather at the Helmick Commons for a rally to encourage unity after racist robocalls and notes were left on campus, on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Des Moines. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

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Bernstein said Drake’s public safety officials also continue to investigate. In an email to students and staff after the second note was discovered, Drake president Marty Martin wrote that university officials believed the two notes were left by the same person.

On Wednesday, Bernstein declined to comment on whether a single person was responsible for the notes. “We can’t say, at this point, the number of people involved,” he said.